Sunday, March 30, 2014

Renovations don't get much more thorough than this project from Dow Jones Architects in Bath, UK. The new zinc cladding creates a more efficient thermal envelope while hugely modernizing the look. Numerous new windows and the addition of a studio and garage better utilize the landscape and views. For more, visit design boom. Photos by David Grandorge.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

From the firm of Crosson Clarke Carnachan: Hut on Sleds. Situated on the Coromandel Peninsula in Whangapoua, New Zealand, the obvious starting point for the seasonal home was portability. When shuttered, the facade blends unremarkably into the landscape. When occupied, the expansive windows permit an abundance of outside in. Aware of the perils of building on the shoreline, the entire unit is maneuverable with a tow from a tractor and can be adjusted to suit a changing landscape. A space-conservative interior and an altogether humble concept make this project enviable on all fronts. Find out more at Contemporist.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Spotted on Kitka, we dually noted the vintage handiwork or Spanish designer Miguel Mila. Not a stranger to lighting design, Mila struck a sweet spot in 1961 with his TMM floor lamp for Santa and Cole. With a slightly exaggerated scale and a striking elegance, the lamp is made of subtle but varied elements; rounded to square, thick to thin, upright to suspended. Get yours at Mjolk.

Monday, March 24, 2014

We love the look of this wood-framed home from Japan's Studio Aula. Located in Shiojiri, Nagano, the homeowner wanted the home to highlight the existing garden with a healthy nod to traditional Japanese architecture. An abundance of exposed wood beams and an eye toward multi-functional spaces come together to create a compelling, cozy interior tucked inside an unassuming facade. For more, visit dezeen. Photography by Ippei Shinzawa.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Edinburg-based artist Alison Watt, recipient of a Order of the British Empire award, was in the market for a live work space to foster her painting career. Watt enlisted fellow Edinburgian Helen Lucas Architects to tackle he renovation of a Georgian townhouse, a project that would result in a space that both focused Watt on her art and managed to frame the classic Georgian details of the home through a modern lens. Considered design choices, like seamless Corian countertops in the kitchen to endure both pasta sauce and paint and a creative pursuit of natural light lend the space a balance between modern utility and classical flourishes. Find out more at Helen Lucas Architects. Via Remodelista.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Designed for Swann Morton's arts, crafts, and modelers (ACM) lineup, this hand plane, created from solid walnut and brass, is the first in a series of tools to be designed for the renowned the English blade manufacturer. The project is in partnership with Designers in Residence Tools for Everyday life, a project promoting the importance of "utilitarian products and the value of making skills." The combination of the tool's preciousness and utilitarianism takes a minute to fully resolve in your head, demanding both a reverence for it and the confidence to use it. For more, visit David Irwin. Inspired by this post on Remodelista.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Based on research suggesting that 20% of city dwellers currently subsist on only 30 square meters (approx. 320 sq. ft.) of living space, IKEA has recently introduced their On The Move collection. The lineup is a compilation of work from designers like France's Matali Crasset, Britain's Mathias Hahn, and New York City's own Rich, Brilliant, Willing. While very much in step with IKEA's image of mass-market Scandinavia, On The Move does have a notable abundance of integrated storage features and even, in the the case of Henrik Preutz's Balancing Bench, extremely creative and charming approaches to space-savings. Visit Dezeen to read more. See also IKEA's press release here.